What to do if I have stubbed my toe?
We’ve all been there… walking barefoot, minding our own business, when suddenly YIKES! What happened? Yes we have stubbed our toe on the corner of the bed or a table leg. A seemingly small injury that hurts way more than it seems like it should.
A toe stub can cause pain and swelling in the toe/toenail and foot. Most stubbed toes are not too serious but some stubbed toes can cause broken bones or nail injuries.
In addition to pain, you may also have bleeding from your nail bed which can cause both bruising and redness to the toenail itself and surrounding skin.
If it’s a mild stub, applying an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) for up to 10 minutes at a time is recommended. Keep your foot up to reduce swelling. We can also tape the affected toe to the next toe to provide a strut/support.
What should we do?
If it’s a mild stub, applying an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) for up to 10 minutes at a time is recommended. Keep your foot up to reduce swelling. We can also tape the affected toe to the next toe to provide a strut/support.
Top tip: Wearing house shoes around the home can save you from future toe / toenail trauma stub!
How do I know if I broke my toe when I stubbed it?
If pain from a stubbed toe goes away after an hour or two, you probably don’t have a bone fracture. If you can walk on it without limping, most likely it’s not broken. These are the indications that you may have broken your bone or have a joint dislocation if the pain:
- Is severe.
- Gets worse when you move your toe.
- Lasts longer than a day or two.
Symptoms of a broken toe also include:
- Bleeding or injury to your nail bed.
- A bend or deformity in your toe. It might stick out to the side, down or up.
- Numbness or weakness in your toe joint.
- Inability to move it, walk on it or put weight on it.
- Severe or lingering bruising or swelling. Your toe’s skin may look blue, purple or red.
Stubbing your toe is a common occurrence and while it can be painful, there are cases that can be managed effectively at home with the steps mentioned above. If the pain or swelling does not improve after a couple of days or if walking is difficult, consult a podiatrist – and you might be recommend to have an X-ray in order to ensure no fracture is present.
Are you suffering from any nail condition? At The Chelsea Clinic, we can help. One of our podiatrist can assist and then recommend what treatments are best to get you back on track. Podiatrist South Kensington
Schedule an appointment here or you may call us at +44 (0) 207 101 4000.
